Neil Hannon, Originally from Derry, has been the only ever-present member of the band, being its founder in 1989 when he was joined by John McCullagh and Kevin Traynor. Their first album, the heavily R.E.M.-influenced and now-deleted Fanfare for the Comic Muse, enjoyed little success though. A couple of equally unsuccessful EPs - Timewatch (1991); Europop (1992) - were to follow, with newly-recruited member John Allen handling lead vocals on some tracks. After the commercial failure of the latter EP, this line-up soon fell apart.
Hannon, however, was not deterred in his efforts and re-appeared in 1993 with Liberation. Featuring a fairly diverse musical outlook that goes from the tongue-in-cheek synth pop of Europop(nearly unrecognisable from the previously-released version) to the classical stylings of Timewatching.
Indeed, it was only some minor success in France that really enabled Hannon to proceed to his second effort Promenade. Released in 1994, this was heavily driven by classical influences, with Michael Nyman's stylings clearly an influence. Hannon himself acknowledged this when he apparently sent a copy of his new album to the composer, jokingly asking him not to sue. Essentially a concept album about a day spent by two lovers, it also received similar critical acclaim to that which Liberation was afforded. Commercial success, though, was not forthcoming.
At around the same time, Hannon also wrote and performed the theme music for the TV sitcom Father Ted (which would subsequently be incorporated into the song Songs of Love on the album Casanova), and later wrote the music for the deliberately bad mock-Eurovision song My Lovely Horse for one episode. Hannon resisted widespread requests from fans to release the track as a single for the Christmas market, but it was eventually released in 1999 as the third track on the CD-single Gin Soaked Boy. This would not be the only time they would be responsible for a TV theme, as In Pursuit Of Happiness was also used by the BBC science and technology show, Tomorrow's World. Hannon also recently composed the music for the comedy series "The IT Crowd".
The album Casanova (1996), and in particular the single Something for the Weekend led to the band's first major successes, with Neil Hannon becoming a distinctive, albeit unlikely, popstar in an immaculate suit, and always appearing the elegant dandy. At the height of their commercial success, the band put out A Short Album About Love (a reference to the Krzysztof Kieślowski movie A Short Film About Love), recorded live at soundcheck with the Brunel Ensemble in preparation for a concert at the Shepherd's Bush Empire, from which several songs were released as b-sides. It was aptly released on Valentine's Day in 1997. Subsequently, the band contributed a reworking of Noel Coward's I've Been to a Marvellous Party to a compilation of covers of the writer's songs, with Hannon affecting a Cowardesque lilt (albeit interspersed with an aggressive electronic musical backing).
The foppish image, but not the suit, was ditched for the more sombre album Fin De Siècle in 1998, although its biggest hit, the jaunty National Express, a song about the national coach operators, belied its more intimate, soul-searching tone. Maintaining the balance between these poles, 1999's Secret History - the Best of The Divine Comedy included a re-recording of Liberation track The Pop Singer's Fear of the Pollen Count and two new songs (Gin-Soaked Boy and Too Young to Die) alongside the band's main hits. In the same year, the band also collaborated with Tom Jones on a cover version of Portishead's All Mine, featured on his album Reload.
A serious side to the band was also in evidence in 2000's collaboration with Ute Lemper on her album Punishing Kiss, most of which featured The Divine Comedy as Lemper's backing band.
The 2001 album Regeneration attempted to remove the band still further from its association with comedy. Hannon hired famous producer Nigel Godrich to "remake" the band. Neil ditched the suit and donned the Britrock band image. However, the album was a greater critical than commercial success, and soon after its release it was announced that The Divine Comedy were splitting up. However within a year Hannon was touring again with a revised band line-up, playing a series of joint-headline gigs in the USA, UK and Ireland featuring both The Divine Comedy and Ben Folds, who would cover The Divine Comedy's Songs of Love on his Sunny 16 EP.
Eventually a new album surfaced in the form of 2004's Absent Friends. Striking a balance between the occasionally earnest sound of the band's later material and the lighter tone of the more popular releases, it encapsulated the essence of The Divine Comedy. 2004 saw two dates of particularly acclaimed performances, one at the London Palladium (which was later released as a live DVD) and one at the Royal Albert Hall.
In January 2005, Hannon announced that he had acquired the worldwide copyrights to all of his recorded output with his former record label, Setanta Records. He declared on the band's official website that he would be launching his own record label Divine Comedy Records in order to re-release his 1990s output.
Hannon's ninth album under the Divine Comedy moniker, Victory for the Comic Muse (a reference to his debut), was released in June 2006. It is suggested by fans to be less personal and more free-approach in tone than his most recent albums. The bulk of the record was recorded in just two weeks, hence the more spontaneous sound, and features appearances from Travis bass player Dougie Payne.
Hannon collaborated with Thomas Walsh of Pugwash to create an album themed around the sport of cricket. Released under the alias The Duckworth Lewis Method, the self-titled album was released in 2009 to critical acclaim.
The following year saw the tenth Divine Comedy album and first on his own label, Bang Goes the Knighthood.
Mother Dear
The Divine Comedy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That my mother was a person in her own right
Now I realize how very lucky I have been
And there, but for the grace of God, go I
Mother dear, she can see inside
Mother dear, and I've nowhere to hide
Mother dear, did I spoil your plans?
When I was a teenager I really did believe
That my parents had adopted me
And the way I carried on they must have thought
They'd brought the wrong little baby home from maternity
I'd like to say I'm sorry but my
Mother dear, she already knows
Mother dear, she'll never let me go
Mother dear, kept me warm and safe
Mother dear, I'll never lose my faith in mother dear
If I ever get arrested by the C.I.A.
Because they take me for a foreign spy
They won't need no lie-detector, all they'll have to do
Is make me look into my mother's eyes
Mother dear, she can see inside
Mother dear, and I've nowhere to hide
Mother dear, kept me warm and safe
Mother dear, I'll never lose my faith in mother dear
Mother dear, did I spoil your plans?
Mother dear, I do the best I can
The Divine Comedy's song "Mother Dear" is a tribute to the love, care and guidance of a mother. The song reflects on the singer's realization that his mother is a person in her own right, rather than just a parental figure. The opening lines suggest that this is a recent realization for the singer: "It was not that long ago it first occurred to me / That my mother was a person in her own right." The singer then expresses gratitude for the love and care he has received from his mother and acknowledges that he is lucky to have her in his life: "Now I realize how very lucky I have been / And there, but for the grace of God, go I."
The chorus of the song is a loving tribute to the singer's mother, whom he addresses as "Mother dear." The singer acknowledges his vulnerability and openness in front of his mother, as she can "see inside" him and he has "nowhere to hide." He also asks his mother if he has ever spoiled her plans and reassures her that he always does the best he can: "Mother dear, did I spoil your plans? / Mother dear, I do the best I can."
The song also features a nostalgic reflection on the singer's teenage years, during which he believed that he was adopted and did not belong in his family. He acknowledges that he was difficult to deal with during this time, but expresses gratitude for his mother's unwavering love and support: "I'd like to say I'm sorry but my / Mother dear, she already knows / Mother dear, she'll never let me go / Mother dear, kept me warm and safe."
Overall, "Mother Dear" is a touching tribute to the love and care of a mother, and the pivotal role she plays in shaping a child's life.
Line by Line Meaning
It was not that long ago it first occurred to me
Recently, I came to the realization that my mother is an individual with her own thoughts and feelings.
That my mother was a person in her own right
I finally understood that my mother is her own person with her own unique identity.
Now I realize how very lucky I have been
I have come to appreciate how fortunate I am to have the mother that I do.
And there, but for the grace of God, go I
I am grateful that I was blessed with such a wonderful mother and acknowledge that my life could have been very different without her.
Mother dear, she can see inside
My mother has a deep understanding of me and my emotions.
Mother dear, and I've nowhere to hide
I am unable to keep anything from my mother because she knows me so well.
Mother dear, did I spoil your plans?
I wonder if the decisions I have made have disappointed or negatively affected my mother's goals or wishes.
Mother dear, I do the best I can
I try my hardest to make my mother proud and live up to her expectations.
When I was a teenager I really did believe
During my adolescence, I truly thought that my parents had adopted me.
That my parents had adopted me
I had a hard time accepting that I was related to my parents because of how different we were at times.
And the way I carried on they must have thought
Due to my behavior, my parents may have considered the possibility that they had brought back the wrong child from the hospital.
They'd brought the wrong little baby home from maternity
I believed that my actions made it seem like I wasn't my parents' biological child because we were so dissimilar.
Mother dear, she already knows
My mother can already tell when I am feeling something, even before I am able to articulate it myself.
Mother dear, she'll never let me go
My mother will always be there for me and guide me through life, no matter what happens.
Mother dear, kept me warm and safe
Throughout my life, my mother has provided emotional security and physical safety for me.
Mother dear, I'll never lose my faith in mother dear
No matter what happens, I trust my mother and believe that she always has my best interests in mind.
If I ever get arrested by the C.I.A.
Hypothetically, if I were ever detained by the Central Intelligence Agency, also known as the CIA.
Because they take me for a foreign spy
If they mistakenly believed I was a spy from another country.
They won't need no lie-detector, all they'll have to do
The CIA wouldn't need to use a lie detector, as there is someone who already knows the truth about me.
Is make me look into my mother's eyes
They could simply have me look into my mother's eyes, and she would be able to confirm whether I am telling the truth or not.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: NEIL HANNON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Goulven Mer
It was not that long ago it first occurred to me
That my mother was a person in her own right
And now I realize how very lucky I have been
And there, but for the grace of God, go I, go I
Mother dear, she can see inside
Mother dear, and I've nowhere to hide
Mother dear, did I spoil your plans?
Mother dear, I do the best I can
When I was a teenager, I really did believe
That my parents had adopted me
And the way I carried on they must have thought
They'd brought the wrong little baby home from maternity
Well, I'd like to say I'm sorry but my
Mother dear, she already knows
Mother dear, she'll never let me go
Mother dear, kept me warm and safe
Mother dear, I'll never lose my faith in mother dear
If I ever get arrested by the C.I.A.
Because they take me for a foreign spy
They won't need no lie-detector, all they'll have to do
Is make me look into my mother's eyes
And I'll tell them anything they like
Mother dear, she can see inside
Mother dear, and I've nowhere to hide
Mother dear, kept me warm and safe
Mother dear, I'll never lose my faith in mother dear
Mother dear, mother dear
My mother dear
Mother dear, did I spoil your plans?
Mother dear, I do the best I can
😉
Andrew Dawson
For those of you whose mothers are still alive - send her this song right now. Mine was genuinely touched.
anna
My daughter’s just sent me this and I’m tearing up 😢. Thank you Ashleigh xxxx ❤️
Diego Mercado Villarroel
Today is mother's day and I'm happy and grateful I still have my mom by my side
Goulven Mer
It was not that long ago it first occurred to me
That my mother was a person in her own right
And now I realize how very lucky I have been
And there, but for the grace of God, go I, go I
Mother dear, she can see inside
Mother dear, and I've nowhere to hide
Mother dear, did I spoil your plans?
Mother dear, I do the best I can
When I was a teenager, I really did believe
That my parents had adopted me
And the way I carried on they must have thought
They'd brought the wrong little baby home from maternity
Well, I'd like to say I'm sorry but my
Mother dear, she already knows
Mother dear, she'll never let me go
Mother dear, kept me warm and safe
Mother dear, I'll never lose my faith in mother dear
If I ever get arrested by the C.I.A.
Because they take me for a foreign spy
They won't need no lie-detector, all they'll have to do
Is make me look into my mother's eyes
And I'll tell them anything they like
Mother dear, she can see inside
Mother dear, and I've nowhere to hide
Mother dear, kept me warm and safe
Mother dear, I'll never lose my faith in mother dear
Mother dear, mother dear
My mother dear
Mother dear, did I spoil your plans?
Mother dear, I do the best I can
😉
SAS
Found this song just by being a fan of the band 😁
bonnie43uk
Love the lyrics :-)
Anthony Wilcox
Mortimer and Whitehouse.... Me too!
Anita Hopper
Made me cry!
smullaney
Me too..
Alekz 190
Me too 😢